Book Description
With nearly three million copies sold over eight editions, The Enjoyment of Music is the best-selling music appreciation text of all time. Spanning the Middle Ages through the twenty-first century, the text offers a thorough introduction to the elements of music, a broad overview of the history of musical styles, and fascinating cultural contexts and perspectives. The Ninth Edition of this classic text features a stunning new design, exciting new repertory, and an unmatched ancillary and media package.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but older editions are better............2007-05-06
I really appreciated the older editions of this book and thought the language was clear and understandable. I still think these aspects of the book are good, however, I am disappointed at the content. I agree with other reviewers who have suggested that the work should be broken into two books -- one on modern music and another on classic music. It just doesn't make any sense to skip major composers and I feel this one size fits all approach misses the mark in this regard.
On the other hand, the book is well-written and has been well-received over its many years and editions. Some reviewers point to an overly politically correct stance, which I believe has some validity. Including minor women composers at the expense of major male composers is not politically correct, it is an inexcusable error. On the other hand, excluding women's contribution to the musical literature completely or leaving out a major woman composer is also an error. I am guessing that a chapter on the cultural issues around women and music with an overview of women composers that are largely unknown or underrated would have better served the target audience.
Textbooks are EXTREMELY expensive and after so many editions, I think this one should be a homerun. Unfortunately, it is now good, but not great. If you don't like this one, you may want to try Music: An Appreciation w/ Multimedia Companion 4.5 CD-ROM. This is done by a concert pianist and does justice to the major composers.
While I am not currently a professional musician, I was for 11 years and I continue to take lessons from a concert pianist. I play a variety of instruments and I've been studying music since before I could read. As such, I think I am in a good position to evaluate the merits of this text. It is still very worthwhile, but I hope they do better in the next edition. Another book worth considering is What to Listen for in Music and Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination. The former book, gives you an inside look at music through the eyes of a composer and the second is a wonderful and entertaining journey through understanding sound and how music produces pleasure from a psychological and biological viewpoint. Both books are very readable by non-musicians and laypersons without a background of any type. The second book is one that I read in two sittings.... AWESOME! I have reviewed both, if you want more details.
If you are also looking to understand some music theory, try Harmony and Theory: A Comprehensive Source for All Musicians (Essential Concepts (Musicians Institute).). This is a great short introduction to music theory and harmony as it relates to modern music. If you are musical at all, you will find that this covers a lot of ground in a short space.
Buying the Book Online.......2007-02-07
This isn't a review about the work of the book but about ordering it online for people who might be nervous about buying this product online. I bought it for a college course. The bookstore wanted to charge me $50 downtown. I bought it online for about $25, including standard shipping. I was nervous that the book wouldn't make it here on time and I also wondered if it really would be the correct book. The book was shipping in 3 business days (5 days) which was faster than I thought. It was more than a great price, it was said to be in "good condition" and it was in great condition and it was the correct book!
The book itself is easy to understand and follow. I enjoy reading it and it has a lot of up to date information that makes it all the more interesting.
Response to "a reader" and "music teacher".......2006-07-20
After having gone through nine editions, this text bears little resemblence to the original work published in 1955. That text, and the next few editions, were solid and informative. With the addition of co-author Kristine Forney, the work has definitely taken on a more modern perspective at the unfortunate expense of truly great composers.
Having been a serious student of music in earlier life, and a constant listener since birth, I have an avid appreciation of most genres of music. Having said that, I firmly believe the study of music appreciation should remain somewhat "high-brow". By this I mean that it should limit itself to what is considered, in common parlance, as "classical" or "orchestral" music.
Modern genres of music do display moments of true musical genius and originality. But, for the most part, the majority of the material is borrowed, ultimately from the "classical." Most popular musicians have little knowledge of musical composition, or even how to record their works in musical notation. Rap and electronic are the ultimate in this area, many times outright recording a piece of someone else's music and blending the cuts together to produce their own "song."
If one seriously wants to develop an appreciation of music, a solid exposure to and understanding of the "classical" composers is a must. Otherwise, as is the case with most modern and post-modern (whatever that means) teaching materials, a true understanding of the origins, history, and development of the subject is lost. Herbie Hancock and Michael Jackson may be interesting and enjoyable, but they are hardly groundbreaking from a musical perspective.
The authors should separate the "classical" from the "modern" into two texts. Both studies would greatly benefit. After all, with the proliferation of college students downloading music and playing it on every device that can produce a sound, does anyone really think students do not have an appreciation of "modern" music?
Excellent History of Music!!!.......2006-05-12
This is an excellent book to read and study music from. It lays out the history of music in a very understandable manner for an average person. The timeline of music consisting of such musical eras as the medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, post-romantic, impressionism, early twentieth century and later twentieth century is very enlightening. It's all there from folk to jazz to ragtime and swing. The great composers would have loved to read this one. By the way, poets, make your feast on the history of the Troubadours, Trobairitz, Trouveres and Minnesingers poet-musicians from the middle ages from France and Germany. This is really an interesting book to read regarding music. It's truly educational. Also check "Trilogy Moments for the Miond, Body and Soul" with a new selection of Epulaeryu poems.
Responding to "a reader".......2006-04-09
In response to "a reader's" review, Holst and Orff did not contribute to the larger schema of music history. Although a work like "Carmina Burana" is significant only because it's been rehashed over in dramatic parts of a film, it has little value in terms of delineating trends in music. I only partially agree with his/her assessment of J.-de-la-Guerre because her work is used more to show a common example of highly ornamented French harpsichord music, rather than the composer herself. This is a well-organized book, giving a survey (keyword: SURVEY) of Western music, which means that if you want to learn about Elgar, read a book on him.
Average customer rating:
- Title may be misleading
- A book for the advnaced
- Good book
- A recording studio masterpiece
- Have you got time?
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Master Handbook of Acoustics
F. Alton Everest
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
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Sound Studio Construction on a Budget
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Critical Listening Skills for Audio Professionals
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ASIN: 0071360972 |
Book Description
The goal of this book is to apply the principles of acoustics to the audio arts. This involves serving as an interpreter of major trends and the literature for students and practitioners in the audio field. Along with covering the more theoretical aspects of acoustics, the book applies the theory to the design of specialized audio spaces such as the home listening room, the control room, and the multi-track-recording studio.
Customer Reviews:
Title may be misleading.......2007-07-25
There are two common definitions of the word "acoustics." The most general is "an area of physics dealing with sound and sound waves" and the second is "the qualities of a room that determine audibility and fidelity of sound in it." This book is a very good reference for the latter, but if you're looking for the former, look elsewhere. Also, I'm not sure I would describe it as a Handbook, but rather as a reference text.
It is good for what it does cover and is relatively easy to read.
A book for the advnaced.......2007-07-09
A great book, but can be too advanced for some. A lot of physics is included - which is great - but perhaps some previous knowledge or some side reading is a good idea.
Over all, excellent book, and a goldmine to buy.
Good book.......2007-05-11
It is nice REFERENCE book for practicing sound engineer. If you in a process of setting up your home studio and need quick and meaningful start get Acoustics for producer and musician, includes SoundsAcademy Certification and it will take you inside the subject fast and straight to the point.
This book addresses room acoustics and in this regard is superb reference but many music related aspects of acoustics aren't there. For room acoustics treatment this book is very useful though.
A recording studio masterpiece.......2006-04-27
OK, so this does not cover ALL acoustincs. If one is interested in recording or playback acoustics, this is THE BEST. As an engineer and producer who has been involved in the construction of a dozen studios, I have the clients and architects read this before we start hard design parameters. For lay listeners, the chances are good your audio budget is better spent on acoustic treatment rather than a more exotic cable. For all of the above, this book will explain the what, why and how to get results. For professionals, it explains how to obtain designable results. I find it an easy read, and I refer to it occasionally, particularly when discussing room acoustics with neophyte "sound men" and audio engineers. I'd read it if I were you.
Have you got time?.......2006-03-27
Despite its title, this book should better be called Master Handbook of Room Acoustics, as it is primarily and almost solely dedicated to the acoustics of enclosed rooms. With its over 600 pages you will need a large hand, and plenty of time to read. But the information you gather when reading the main text, could have been presented in less than half the number of pages. Despite - or is it because - the abundance of words and excursions into anecdotes, the explanations are sometimes missing the clue. The last few chapters have been written by others authors, and are more to the point. Besides, these co-authors use the SI system, while the main text is using American units. A bit out of time, I would say.
Book Description
Audio productions are made or broken by the quality of the recording engineer's ears. The ability to properly discern sounds, identify subtle problems, and act accordingly to apply the necessary fix makes all the difference in the quality of the final tracks and master. The good news is that these crucial skills can be learned. The ability to instantly identify frequencies, hear hidden distortions, and instinctively reconcile conflicts in the EQ of instruments, audio elements, vocals and more are traits of those who have mastered the art of audio production. The best engineers have trained their ears to immediately recognize audio problems that the consumer and those new to recording arts would likely not hear, but that, if left unresolved, would result in an amateurish final product. Through hundreds of illustrations and an accompanying disc containing high-resolution MP3 files with nearly five hours of narration of the entire course, you can acquire the audio discernment skills of a seasoned recording engineer by studying this course at your own pace, in your own home.
Customer Reviews:
GREAT SONIC WISDOM passed on to us .......2007-10-03
Listen carefully !
If you are a Sound Engineer and you dont have a copy of this book, your
missing out on a lot.
This book is all about you and your EAR and how you perceive sound,
your expensive mixers and gadgets are of no use if you dont know
how to listen to the sound criticaly and deftly turn those nobs and slide those sliders on your mixers !
A top pick for both students and aspiring audio engineers........2006-10-15
The ability of the audio engineer to identify frequencies, hear hidden distortions and reconcile conflicts can make or break a career; but how can such skills be taught? Critical Listening Skills For Audio Professionals is one sure method for gaining expertise: it pairs an audio cd of high-resolution MP3 files containing nearly five hours of narration of the entire course with a text identifying critical listening skills. Students of the author's courses have tested and developed their own skills on the area based on the contents here, but the price tag is affordable enough for non-college aspiring pros to benefit from. A top pick for both students and aspiring audio engineers.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Classic Book Updated and Inexpensive.......2006-08-16
This book starts out by saying that the maestro on the podium, the recording engineer, and the experienced music critic have suffieiently trained ears to judge if the sound quality of music is acceptable. The beginning student may well have ears that are just as good, perhaps even better, than these professionals. The student can hear, but doesn't know how to listen.
This book is on listening. It is based on the courses the author developed to teach listening. The first half of the book is on the training the ears to detecting the changes in sound frequency, level, band limitations, irregularities, distortion, noise, etc. The second part is more on the psychoacoustics, the human auditory system. Of particular interest in this section is the understanding of the part that perception plays in the hearing of sounds.
The CD included with the book contains some eighteen lectures that essentially make up a course in listening.
This book is based on and expanded from previous books from the author. These earlier books have long been out of print and difficult to find. This new edition has been updated and priced at a price anyone can afford.
Average customer rating:
- Pretty comprehensive
- Too technical for and audio "engineer"?!? LOL
- too technical
- WAAAAY TOO TECHNICAL
- great advice, but dont stop here
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Sound Studio Construction on a Budget
F. Alton Everest
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How to Build A Small Budget Recording Studio From Scratch : With 12 Tested Designs (TAB Mastering Electronics Series)
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Master Handbook of Acoustics
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Basic Home Studio Design (The Basic Series)
ASIN: 0070213828 |
Book Description
From one of the world's leading acoustics experts, this nuts-and-bolts book offers complete instructions and guidance for building your own inexpensive sound studio. Anyone with a discerning ear and a modicum of electronics skills can follow the clear plans for 10 designs, which include a voice-over recording studio; recording studios for modern, classical, and rock music; a home theater; small announce booth; control room; and music listening room. All projects are fully illustrated and accompanied by complete part lists.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty comprehensive.......2007-01-09
This book is useless if you already own "The Master Handbook of Acoustics" by the same author. However as the title suggests it's all about being on a budget, which it explains fairly well. If you are building a projects studio in your house for example..this is a must read.
Too technical for and audio "engineer"?!? LOL.......2006-04-27
This book is an update of Everest's classic "Acoustic Design for Home and Studio". It is great for what it is. For more capable types, Everest's "Master" book is more complete. This one has the basics. For those who thought this is too technical, I wonder how they expect to deal with the other aspects of audio engineering. Just knowing how to twist a knob is not a path to excellence.
In actuality this is a well written, very direct primer, starting with very basic physics, and leading to easy design engineering. It's not hard to calculate, design, finance or construct good acoustics, and the payoff is huge. It does require a modest amount of work, and calculations to get good data. Remember: "Garbage in, garbage out." Acoustics control your recording and playback. This book will give you a fighting chance.
too technical.......2004-09-25
if you are on a financial budget, you are likely on a time budget, and this book can be a time sucker. it reminded my of my high school trigonometry book. I didn't spend much time with that, either. To the defense of the writer, my friends in the business who actually know what they are doing, swear by this guy and his books. I, however, am just trying to make a room in my house sound a little better, and could care less to know about the science behind it any more than I care about the science behind a combustion engine while I'm driving. I recommend 'basic home studio design' by paul white. simple, small, easy, the minimum that you need to know- but as much as i think 90% would need.
WAAAAY TOO TECHNICAL.......2002-07-25
Too much time spent on the mathematics of sound transfer and acoustics. Not enough on how to build the studio. Could not find a "complete parts list" for any of the plans. This is not for someone looking to build a simple studio. Very technical and boring.
great advice, but dont stop here.......2001-11-06
as another reviewer says, this appears to be the previous edition of what is currently titled "how to build a small budget recording studio....". also, as another reviewer has noted, you dont have to read it in order -- each example project its its own chapter with its own self-contained presentation. each example does stress diffferent design goals that translate to different acoustic treatments.
its a little annoying that every page seems to be an advertsemen for an rpg product. this is mitigated by the author's inclusion of journal and patent references that tell you everything you need to know to build these treatments yourself if you like. or if your budget doesnt allow for the beautiful wood forms from rpg, just take the keywords and run -- diffusor, absorber, abfussor -- and its easy to find someone besides rpg that makes the things using less expensive materials.
i enjoyed the book enough that i'm ordering the next edition. i also recommend his book on stereo theory if you want an overview of the psychoacoustics involved.
Book Description
This chronological text, which covers all the major periods in music history, offers instructors and students particular help in developing listening skills in three ways: First, a free "Introduction to Listening" CD comes packaged with each student copy of the text. This CD plays all of the music discussed in the music fundamentals chapters of the text and provides an audio guide called "Instruments of the Orchestra." The guide presents the instruments and then tests students' ability to recognize them by themselves and in various combinations. Second, every chapter in Wright's text offers unique listening exercises. It is the only music appreciation book to have listening exercises built into and fully integrated with the text. Third, interactive listening guides and listening quizzes for all of the music in the text are available free via download from the Schirmer website. More than any other music appreciation text, LISTENING TO MUSIC challenges students to develop and refine their listening skills. Wright covers traditional Western music from medieval to modern, and integrates non-Western music throughout the text where appropriate, drawing comparisons between music of Western and other cultures. Concluding chapters discuss popular music and its impact on the world of music. Musical examples from each historical period are discussed within their social context, giving students a broad sense not only of a piece's composition, but also of its historical and cultural meaning.
Customer Reviews:
Music to my ears.......2007-07-06
When I signed up to take Music Appreciation I was a bit nervous. Though I have grown up around music and musicians, I have never enjoyed "music class." I was pleasantly surprised by the conversational and topical way this book was written. It is interesting and informative regardless of your level of music understanding or proficiency. I thoroughly enjoyed both the listening exercises and the composer biographies.
Good Experience.......2007-03-09
This was a good experience the price was right the delivery was timely a great overall experience was had.
the very best.......2005-12-06
Wright's book is a great introduction to the Western tradition, and a fair introduction to the world's music as a whole.
I know that there are cheaper alternatives out there, especially "The Vintage Guide to Classical Music," which I also recommend. But in this case, the CDs are worth the extra money. They correspond with the listening exercises in the book, and before long you really can tell an oboe from a french horn, a cello from a, well, a tuba, and so on. You learn to recognize and pay attention to meter, key, etc.... You really get on your way to understanding classical music, from which genuine appreciation can grow.
He also gives a fairly solid introducion to music as a whole, not only the classical Western "art music" tradition, but jazz, blues, rock, world music, and so on.
I can say that, to my knowledge, no other book out there does that.
I don't think any introduction is needed before this book; it can be the first you ever read on music even if you have no background whatsoever. The book to follow up this is, IMO, Fred Plotkin's "Classical Music 101" and Copland's classic, "What to Listen For in Music."
I learned a lot from this book and his course, which I failed when I was in college--evidently, attendance was mandatory after all! And I thought the teaching assistant having a crush on me would help.... Shame on me!
Great text, great author.......2002-12-14
I took Craig Wright's class at Yale, from which he wrote the text. The listening exercises are great--not too difficult, more just to guide listening--and it really can help guide a musical novice to proficiency.
A concise, thorough guide to music with personal insight........1996-10-11
Craig Wright not only provides us with a nicely packaged
history of music, composers, and culture, but also gives
us a peak into the personal lives within the societies of
these periods. Each chapter contains excellent listening
exercises to be used with works on the included CD and there
are excellent illustrations and photographs that "bring you
back" to each age of music. I recommend it as a general
reference source for accomplished musicians, and as a nice
guide for all classical music fans.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent textbook...
- An excellent linear approach to common-practice harmony
|
The Complete Musician: An Integrated Approach to Tonal Theory, Analysis, and Listening Includes 2 CDs
Steven G. Laitz
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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The Complete Musician Student Workbook: An Integrated Approach to Tonal Theory, Analysis, and Listening Volume I
ASIN: 0195095677 |
Book Description
Bringing together the analytical, aural, and tactile activities that comprise a tonal theory curriculum, The Complete Musician relies on a diverse repertoire and innovative exercises to integrate theory (writing and analysis), skills (singing, playing, and dictation), and music-making outside the theory class. Key Features * Common practice literature is the driving force of the text and comprises the bulk of the harmonic dictation component. * Musical examples range from Schutz to Scriabin and from solo vocal and instrumental music to orchestral ensembles. They include popular and folk music. * Topics covered run the gamut from rudiments to compositional processes of the late nineteenth century. * Exercises are interspersed throughout and increase in pedagogical complexity, ranging from passive identification activities to active composition. * The 2 CDs packaged with each text include more than 300 recorded textbook examples performed by students and faculty from the Eastman School of Music. (A separate set of 8 CDs offers nearly 2000 more examples--from solo piano to full orchestra--of the exercises in the text and workbooks, played by the same performers.) * The premise of the text is that students can learn to hear, comprehend, and model the structure and syntax of the music they love, and that simple processes, which are fleshed out in diverse contexts, underlie tonal music. An innovative text, The Complete Musician makes the study of tonal theory as engaging and as musical as possible. It provides students with a strong foundation in the principles of writing, analyzing, hearing, singing, and playing tonal harmony and enables them to understand the most important musical forms. Students can then apply these principles to their performances and to any tonal pieces that they encounter throughout their musical careers. Accompanying Supplements Instructor's Manual: 0-19-509568-5 Student Workbook, Volume I: 0-19-516059-2 Student Workbook, Volume II: 0-19-516060-6 8-CD Set: 0-19-509569-3
Customer Reviews:
Excellent textbook..........2006-09-29
...comprehensive, detailed but nevertheless succinct and to the point...the writing is a bit dry but after all it is a textbook.
An excellent linear approach to common-practice harmony.......2005-04-02
This book is best for those who have already taken a full course in tonal harmony and understand it well from a functional perspective but want to understand it better from a linear perspective.
It is a very complete course in common practice tonal harmony. It is in many ways an updated successor to Aldwell & Schachter in that it pays attention to every minute detail of voice leading and part-writing. Varieties of V-I take over 100 pages alone. For those interesting in mastering the common practice writing style, this is much better than, for example Benward or Piston, which focus more on the functional aspects of harmony, but neglect the linear. If you have this, W. A. Mathieu's Harmonic Experience, Bert Ligon's Jazz Theory text, and Ludmila Udmela's text on contemporary harmony you have 90% of what you need to know about tonal harmony.
Who is this book not for? It is not for those interested in learning harmony in Jazz, Pop, or 20th century styles. Also, the title "Complete Musician" is a misonomer. It is only common-practice harmony.
This book requires a solid foundation of the basics of music theory to absorb--I can imagine it being very confusing if used for unprepared college freshmen, because it doesn't spend much time on fundamentals.
Book Description
Emphasizing music in the context of the society that surrounds it, Music: The Art of Listening weaves the development of Western music into the fabric of cultural history, paying special attention to the biographies of significant composers.
Customer Reviews:
'Music the art of listening' book.......2006-11-12
book was in perfect shape. It supposed to be comming with CD-Rom that includes 3CD's. Thats was missing and seller didnt bother about it.
I was dissapointed but again book was great brand new shape but would be too expensive without CD's. Seller included only 1CD witch is general info CD. Seller told me to purchase CD's separately. That was wrong.
Real Music Appreciation.......2005-10-30
Having taught music appreciation and music literature at the college level for nearly thirty years I have seen many books such as this one. This is one of the best. Where many authors are condescending, Ferris speaks straight to you; where many authors give irrelevant history and biography, Ferris focuses on the musical experience, using history and biography only as a tool for better understanding. Many books have the not-so-hidden agenda to make it clear that classical music is better than pop music in every way; but Ferris creates a more exploratory environment. Her sections on the music of non-Western cultures (Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, African... and even Native American) are quite well focused, and these open up the mind to alternative -- and equal -- modes of listening and appreciating music as a human activity. The one weak area for me was the CD collection (always a problem as there are too many good choices). Earlier editions had a bit better selection. Some were supposed to be shifted to the extended collection, and the extended collection that is listed in the book is really wonderful. Unfortunately, that collection never materialized. The extended collection I received (twice) left off all the selections I was counting on for my class. But if the publisher ever gets that collection together, this really will be the best music appreciation book on the market.
Be forewarned: you do have to be able to read at a college level, and there is an expectation that you have some real music background, even if you can't read music. Over the years I have found that freshman college students have more and more trouble reading books at this level, but other books are no better. The Ferris book is smaller and more compact than most, has more relevant information than most, and creates the best experience of all.
Good book..........2005-09-24
I bought this book because I need it for a class I'm in "Music and Culture." It is very helpful. I love the listening examples that they have throughout the book. Also the chapters are short and easy to understand. It gives you the basics and more. Overall, this is a really good book for school and for learning about music and some history of music.
I cried..it was that bad.......2005-09-07
I rarely write reviews unless a book is simply that incredible or particularly awful. Unfortunately, this book happens to be the latter. This "book" was probably one of the worst examples of educational literature ever written. Definitions are vaque, contraditory, too specific (that is, not the full definition), and overall confusing. This book was a requirement for a music class and if it werent for my preceding interest in music, I would probably be turned away from all styles and hang myself if I ever came in proximity to anything close to a "melody"--which by the way is probably the most poorly worded definition in the book.
Book Description
Emphasizing music in the context of the society that surrounds it, Music: The Art of Listening weaves the development of Western music into the fabric of cultural history, paying special attention to the biographies of significant composers. In a clear and accessible format, it introduces music from centuries past as well as that of the current era, and helps the listener develop techniques to fully appreciate music in public performance halls, on the radio, in films, or in the theater. Among the highlights of this seventh edition is a greatly expanded selection of Listening Examples, which are available on the text’s companion CD set.
Book Description
In association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Now the best-selling series Can You Find It? in a great new format!
Similar to Abrams best-selling series, Can You Find It?, in this book, young readers are introduced to great music through great works of art. From “The Flight of the Bumblee” to “The Four Seasons” to “Night on Bald Mountain,” beloved music is illustrated by great works of art, and the text and accompanying CD urge young readers to listen for certain instruments. Can you hear the car horns honking, played by clarinets? Can you hear the horses' hooves, played by castanets? When each CD track is played, young readers will stop, look, and listen as never before.
Classical music is filled with unforgettable images. In this book, great examples of pictorial music are matched to masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, for an introduction to both music and art appreciation for young listeners. Included is a CD featuring 12 short works and an introduction to the orchestra and the instruments.
Customer Reviews:
An Armchair Cultural Experience.......2007-07-22
This elegant picture book and Cd combo provide adult and child partners at any level of maturity with a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the symphony concert hall at the same time. Page after page provide opportunites for delight,discussion and description. We danced, we laughed and we were amused ,even deliciously frightened, by the music and visual art. Brilliantly done, and available to experience during any season of the year, again and again.
Multisensory Resource.......2007-04-05
This book has wonderful pictures and the accompanying CD lets the user expand with questions and dialogue. Great resource!
Fine Art!.......2007-01-10
What inspires an artist? a composer? Why does music "speak" to so many different people? This little publication is a painless introduction to fine art and symphonic music. This is I Spy with a twist. You are asked to gaze at beautiful and interesting artwork while playing different orchestral tracks on the enclosed CD. "Can you hear the marching knights?" "Can you hear the mountain stream?" "Can you hear the rattling skeletons dancing?" The book and CD open with a lovely "meet the instruments" section, which, in itself, is worth the price. I think this book is best enjoyed with a parent and a non-personal CD player but a ten year-old with head phones could zip through all thirteen pieces independently. You might challenge that child to create her own artwork to a piece of her choosing. Or you could plunk a three year-old on your lap and look at just one or two masterpieces at a time. My eight year-old uber athlete loves it and now insists on doing his drawing to music. This book can be enjoyed in many ways, on many levels. It will add spice to a gallery or symphony outing (or even a sibling's band concert!) and with such a wealth of material out there, I sincerely hope a sequel is in the works.
Great way to tie in art, music education for kids........2006-11-22
This book has a collection of 26 paintings and a CD. Each artwork comes with a question, an item to locate on a page. After the item is found you play the CD and try to hear particular thing displayed on a page (like fish swimming in a lake, or bubbles rising to the surface of the water, etc). There are also clues to which instrument will play a particular musical effect that you will be looking for, so you can find it. At the end of the book, there is a short description of each artwork and each music piece that comes with it.
We have enjoyed the book very much, and would recommend it to families with young children who are ready for introduction of art and music. The music pieces are all classics such as Vivaldi, Saint-Saens, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, etc. My kids are 8 and 9.
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The Norton Recordings - Eighth Edition: to Accompany the Enjoyment of Music: Shorter Version
The Norton Scores: A Study Anthology, Ninth Edition, Volume 1: Gregorian Chant to Beethoven
The Norton Scores: A Study Anthology, Ninth Edition, Volume 2: Schubert to the Present
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Study Guide for the Enjoyment of Music
